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Bush Commutes Sentences of Two Border Patrol Agents

HeadlineJan 20, 2009

In his final full day in office, President Bush commuted the prison sentences of two former Border Patrol agents who shot an unarmed Mexican drug smuggler and then tried to cover up the shooting. The agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, never reported the shooting and tampered with evidence. They had served two years in jail. Bush technically has until noon today to issue more pardons, but presidential advisers said no more were forthcoming. Many conservatives are criticizing Bush for not pardoning Vice President Cheney’s former chief of staff Scooter Libby for his role in the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame’s identity. Former Republican Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens was also seeking a pardon. Stevens was convicted last year of corruption charges.

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